Chapters It was a dark and stormy night, the school day has ended, and by now everyone had gone home. Specifically, one individual: Sunset Shimmer . The rain could be heard all over town, as she could see the raindrops fall across her window. She spent part of the day in the kitchen, preparing a meal just for herself as a means of occupying her time. Dressed in an apron, too loose for her frame, she took out some bread and other necessities for a simple baloney sandwich. While not a fancy dinner, not even the bag of cheese puffs as a side dish, it would be more than enough as she proceeds with her homework.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Sunset barely got started when a knock on the door drew her thoughts.
“Probably just a hard gust of wind, ” Sunset thought, resuming her work.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
It was louder this time; curiosity soon got the best of Sunset as she stripped herself of her apron and went to the door to investigate. All the while the door kept rapping, as if someone were desperate for attention.
“Just another sales rep, ” Sunset told herself. “Who’d be crazy enough to come over this late? Who else would it be? ”
Sunset Shimmer opened the door and to her surprise, she recognized a certain blue-skinned Siren from a while ago: Sonata Dusk . There she was, leaning against the clear glass door. For a moment, Sunset thought she was seeing things, narrowing her eyes and yet there she was, hugging herself, shaking and soaking wet. Sunset looks outside the door, making sure her two other cohorts weren’t around… Only to find no one around, not even a subtle hint.
Sunset knew Sonata Dusk, she seemed sweet and innocent, if not naïve and ditzy. But she knew better to underestimate her, as she was a part of a group of rivals who swore to make the high school life of Canterlot High a nightmare, through their own means of drawing adoration. And yet… And yet not even Sunset could bear to ignore whatever pain she could see in her eyes. A sigh escapes her lips, as Sunset slowly opened the glass door.
“How did you find me?” Sunset asked.
Sunset had every right to be cautious, in the event this was all part of a surprise attack and the others could gang up on at any time. But she didn’t speak, not even for a few seconds… A moment that didn’t last for long.
“C-Could you let me in… P-Please…” Sonata asked, feebly.
To say Sunset Shimmer was taken aback was an understatement. Not so much because she actually said ‘please’, but because the look on her face said it all. She was tired, depressed, coupled by the red blush glowing from the cold.
Sunset’s gaze softened as she slowly walked over, one tiny glimpse toward her before opening the screen, parting the small room from the cold. As she slowly wobbled her way into the room, Sunset slowly shut the door as the two girls turned to each other. Awkward silence filled the room for several minutes, neither one knowing what to say.
“So… Where are—”
Before Sunset could finish, her gaze over Sonata stopped her. Upon a close inspection, Sonata was paler than usual, like death’s door was waiting to bring her in. It was decided now was not the time for questions, but instead to offer something else. Well, in Sunset’s mind, enforce since she couldn’t stand idly by while some poor woman was freezing, even if they weren’t entirely on good terms.
“You can take a shower upstairs and clean up,” Sunset instructs. “I’ll have an extra pair of clothes waiting for you.”
“Thank you…” Sonata thanked, silently.
Sunset couldn’t believe she was doing this, yet she couldn’t help but feel sympathetic at the poor state even Sonata was in. Perhaps it was because when Sunset looked at her, she was seeing herself, a reflection of how she used to be. A woman who was neither a friend nor a random stranger, just someone who’s just there… And no one would ever care or acknowledge.
But in Sonata Dusk’s case, something was definitely wrong. She did not reject the offer nor snapped at the offer of hospitality, she seemed too nice for that. Still, Sunset halfheartedly expected her to spat back with, ‘You can’t tell me what to do! ’. And yet… She didn’t. Sunset watched her follow those instructions upon request, watching her make her way to the upstairs bathroom before shutting the door behind her.
The sound of rushing water echoed through the walls, as Sunset went ahead and fumbled through the closet before finding a psychedelic rainbow-style t-shirt and khaki shorts. Whether or not they fit Sonata, Sunset hadn’t a clue, but they would have to do. As Sunset walked away, she could hear faint crying from the bathroom. There was no doubt, something bad happened to her… Something terribly wrong…
As the water ran through the bathroom, Sunset passed the time by watching T.V. yet she couldn’t help but feel a sense of discomfort imagining what Sonata was trying to wash away. Eventually, out of boredom, Sunset got up and decided to make something for her to eat, seeing she clearly had a rough day. Eventually, she could hear the water cease as the faucet was turned off. Leaving the food on the table, Sunset climbed the stairs to the bathroom door as the door opened and the familiar form of the Siren stepped out of the towel. Sunset was greeted by the presence of the towel-clad young girl, noting how the two shared a similar height, thought Sunset stood at least a few inches taller compared to her.
If it were any other time, Sonata’s eyes would be wider, surprisingly innocent yet hiding a sharp, menacing intent like an angry cat waiting to lash out. But when Sunset looks at here… The eyes were reduced to a cloudy gaze, with a trace of uncertainty and confusion. Sunset quietly handed Sonata the change of clothes and just turned away.
“I shouldn’t be involved, ” Sunset told herself. “Whatever happened to her is her business alone. I couldn’t possibly fix it. ”
Yet Sunset’s actions seem to contradict her thoughts, her heart telling a different story. Something bad happened and whether Sunset would admit it or not… She truly cared. Perhaps, it was only because a pathetic creature like Sonata Dusk reminded Sunset Shimmer of her old self, before a faithful encounter with a group of girls would change her entire perspective.
It didn’t take long for Sonata to change, a good five minutes at the most, as she walked out. As expected, the shirt was slightly big on Sonata, the shorts weren’t any better but put a belt around it and the material would stay on as well as they could. For now, the clothes would suffice. Sunset went ahead and walked toward her, the moment she left the bathroom. She, however, just walked on as if Sunset were not there. Sunset swore the rain grew louder, dropping harder, as if to symbolize something was up with Sonata and Sunset could no longer stay silent.
Escorting her to the living room, connected to the kitchen, Sunset set up the couch like a bed, a pillow on one side with a wool blanket. Sonata stared at the space before finally settling down, curling up on the couch. There was just enough space for Sunset, as she sat beside her thinking hard on what to say.
“Are you okay?” Sunset asked, concerned. “Why did you come here?”
Any attempt for Sunset not to make the questions sound awkward clearly failed, as Sonata just looked away with no interest to answer. To be fair, Sunset herself is still new to these types of social situations, mostly trying to process the scenario.
“What could I do? ” Sunset asked herself. “How would my friends handle this situation? ”
Compared to her friends, they made it look so easy. Like someone as smart as Sunset Shimmer couldn’t possibly figure out something so simple… All things considered, there was ‘one’ thing that crossed her mind.
Sunset Shimmer wrapped the Siren girl with the kindest hug she could offer, a form of comfort to warm away the cold feeling welling up around her. She could feel Sonata tense from the sudden action but said nothing to object it. For what felt like decades, as the raging rain fell outside, Sunset Shimmer and Sonata Desk sat for what truly was only a few minutes.
“What… What am I…?”
A small voice broke the silence, and it came from Sonata. Sunset’s eyes widen in surprise, looking down at the terrible sight before her eyes. There she was, Sonata Dusk… And she was crying . Her mouth quivered, her eyes dropped, and silent streams of water poured from her eyes down to her chin as she looked at her with watery eyes.
“Am I…” Sonata paused, mid-cry. “Worthless…?”
Sunset did not answer right away, she merely gazed and watch Sonata Dusk slowly fall apart. Where all this was coming from, Sunset hadn’t a clue. True, Sonata lost against Sunset and her friends, losing her powers in the process. But who could say that makes her worthless? Sunset hated to admit it, but she was no better compared to her, if her initial presence in this world is worth consideration. It felt like a trip toward memory lane Sunset didn’t ask to take or be part of.
“You may seem to be nothing,” Sunset spoke, bluntly. “You lost your powers and you did put my friends in danger…”
As Sunset spoke, Sonata turned to her with a small work. The former was well aware her words seemed cruel, if not heartless, but tough love was the only way to get Sonata to snap out of whatever funk she was on.
“But, at the same time,” Sunset added. “I don’t believe you’re worthless. Whatever kind of life you had before, doesn’t mean you can’t fix the present… Okay?”
Silence filled the air, for a moment Sonata didn’t know what to say. Not much a surprise, considering the fact she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Having said that, no one can say Sonata didn’t have something to say.
“Then…” Sonata began, feeling lost. “How did you do it? How did you solve your own problems…?”
There it was: Something Sunset Shimmer hoped nobody would ever ask… Especially not one of her enemies. The past , a subject Sunset hated to talk about, more than anything… Yet she knew it was coming.
“When I was under Princess Celestia’s tutelage,” Sunset Shimmer began. “I was always an ambitious student, always hungry for power yet never satisfied. I imagine that’s how you were banished, right?”
“To an extent,” Sonata nodded. “The Siren living in my gem told me.”
“Well, I came here to get some… Help , if you can call it that. To find something in this world I felt Equestria couldn’t give me. Probably wasn’t the smartest idea, I’d say I’ve been here for what feels like decades. I wanted so badly to get even with my teacher, to take ‘everything’ she built, but I needed power. The best place I figured to find what I need was to attend the school as a student, work my way to the top, and the rest plays itself out.”
The whole time Sonata silently looked at Sunset, with peak interest of Sunset’s story, of which she was reluctant to tell.
“Anyways… I did take over the school,” Sunset continued. “Everything was smooth sailing, whenever the Fall Formal came around, I was always the winner, I always had the crown, no matter who came my way. As the last girl who competed against me.”
“Huh?” Sonata asked, confused.
“Long story,” Sunset sighed. “My point is: I was unstoppable.”
“Then, how did you--?”
“As time passed, I started feeling powerless even as I controlled the entire school. I thought the only way to gain more control is taking Twilight Sparkle’s crown… In Equestria. I’ve spent years keeping track and hearing stories of all the power that one crown possessed. Luckily for me, thirty moons had come and gone, allowing me passage back to Equestria. I snuck into one of the castles, took the crown, and got away with it… Though I accidentally woke up Twilight herself.”
“What happened?”
“Twilight Sparkle, along with her friends, chased me. I almost escaped, but she managed to hit me with her magic, I could only watch as the crown flew towards the portal. When I got back… Fluttershy, the human Fluttershy, had found the crown and had it locked away. I knew I had to get it back, the first chance I could get. That was… Until Twilight Sparkle actually showed her face.”
“What did she do?”
“She dodged every curve ball I threw at her,” Sunset chuckled. “No matter what I planned, no matter what obstacle made, somehow she perseveres. I still don’t know how she does it!”
“Sounds like she’s very brave,” Sonata replied, silently.
“Brave isn’t exactly the word I’d choose; lucky is the more appropriate one,” Sunset clarified. “Anyways, I didn’t show it, but I was afraid Twilight would end up being more popular than me. I arranged to have Snips and Snails trash the auditorium, but they went too far and nearly wrecked it. Luckily, Twilight and her friends, along with everyone else, fixed up the decorations just in time for the Fall Formal.”
“Did you ever have second thoughts about it?” Sonata asked, curiously. “You know, about stealing the crown and whatever?”
“A little… The truth is it tore me up from the inside, even though I knew there was no going back. I worked too hard after everything else I accomplished; I wasn’t backing out on my plans. Eventually, I actually got my hands on the crown… But they still got in my way.”
“Who?”
“Twilight and her--, Are you even listening?”
“Uh… Yeah, sure I was.”
Sunset Shimmer studied her for a moment, making sure she wasn’t nodding off before continuing the story.
“Anyway, Twilight and her friends somehow managed to gather their magic of friendship and defeat me,” Sunset pressed on. “Ever since then, I’ve tried to keep a clean nose, but you know how that turned out during the Battle of the Bands. After that, we—”
Suddenly, Sunset felt her grip tighten, Sonata Dusk wrapping her arms around her body for a hug. Silence returned, though Sonata’s breathing was slower. Sunset lowered her head, noticing she had fallen asleep. She studied her face, so innocent for one seemingly evil, yet still it surprised her. Out of those three Sirens, how is it someone like Sonata could seem so nice? As weird as it was to say.
Carefully, Sunset Shimmer pried the sleeping Siren off her, gently laying her upon the sheets that had been forgotten. Sunset brushed a bit of hair away from her pale face, gazing at her as she slept… Not in a loving manner, but sympathy like a mother watching a sleeping child. Sunset couldn’t help but see how peaceful she slept, a complete contrast from someone once considered an enemy of the people.
As Sunset watched her, something did catch her eye: A red mark, just along the shoulder. Upon a closer inspection, slowly lifting the thin lavender t-shirt, a heavy bruise upon her thin torso was shown. It was a shocking sight; Sunset couldn’t imagine what she endured. As Sunset pulled the shirt up a bit, the material tracing along her back, Sonata’s body tensed but Sunset had to know. It was just as she suspected; bruises, not just on her sides and back, but all over her upper body.
“No more…” Sonata whispered, trembling. “Please… I’m sorry…”
Sonata was talking in her sleep, as Sunset could tell from her tone, she was scared… Scared of what? She didn’t know. Sunset looked down upon her as if she were a porcelain doll, so small… So fragile… So helpless. Sunset never thought in thirty moons she’d use such words to describe someone like Sonata. Especially her, of all people, one of her worst enemies.
“Wha…” Sonata shot up, rubbing her neck. “What happened? Ow!”
Sunset had just tended her wounds when Sonata woke up. There was no going back, something happened, and Sunset had to know. She had to find some sense to this precarious situation.
“I should be asking you the same thing,” Sunset replied. “What happened to you ? How did you end up with these wounds?”
The more Sunset asked, the more Sonata tried to turn away, like they offended her to some degree. Sunset assumed this had something to do with her friends… Siblings… Or whatever their relationship was.
“… It’s-It’s nothing…” Sonata answered, brushing off. “I accidentally hurt myself, finding a place to stay. This was all I could find so… Here I am.”
“What about your friends? Why aren’t you—”
Sunset stopped herself, before she finished the sentence. She knew it would hit where it hurts, but Sunset needed to confirm her suspicions.
“Did they do this to you?”
Sonata looked away, reluctantly, afraid to answer the question. But Sunset was relentless: She would not be satisfied until she received what she needed to know. The real challenge was getting Sonata to confess to a sensitive subject.
“You mean this?” Sonata asked, feigning surprise. “No worries. I just hit myself a few times on the way. No biggie.”
“Is that the truth?”
“Sure. It’s not a—”
“Sonata, it’s okay. It’s just the two of us; you can tell me what happened.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s only a couple bumps, happens all the time.”
Sunset didn’t need magic to know she was lying through her teeth. Nobody gets these marks every time they are out and about, no matter how klutzy a person can be. Something was troubling her, instincts told Sunset there was something else.
“Sonata, you and I both know this is more than a couple bruises. Who did this to you?”
“Sunset, please! It’s nothing to fret over.”
“It is something to fret over. Whatever happened to you is no exception, so you have to talk to me.”
“Sunset—”
“It’s okay! Nobody’s here, just tell me what happened.
“I—”
“What’s the matter?”
“It was—”
“Why are you--?”
“I GOT BACK FROM A FIGHT! ARE YOU HAPPY?!”
Sunset finally got the answer, but it left her speechless.
“A fight?” Sunset asked, concerned.
“Yes… A fight,” Sonata mumbled. “No… More like a slaughter. What else is there to say?”
“Sonata… Who was the fight with?”
Deep down, Sunset Shimmer already knew the answer, but she wanted Sonata to be the one to answer. The siren took a deep breath, looking upon Sunset with the most sorrowful face she can give. Sunset carefully leaned forward, anxious to hear what came next.
“It was… With them .”
The moment Sunset Shimmer heard that final answer, to say she was flabbergasted was putting things simply. Exchanging verbal words was one thing; the Dazzlings have done it all the time. But still, after seeing all the injuries and Sonata all by herself, whatever Sunset imagined was sickening.
“Sonata, what did they do to you…?” Sunset asked.
“Where do I begin?” Sonata began, looking away.
"It was after fleeing from the Battle of the Bands,” Sonata began. “Adagio and Aria were steamed, they yelled at each other over whose fault it was… As usual. It was bad enough watching them scream at each other, but when I tried to step in… It only got worse.”
“Tell me what happened, Sonata,” Sunset urged.
“Adagio… She…”
Sunset Shimmer could see the agony growing along Sonata’s face, the more she spoke of what really happened. Sunset kept quiet as Sonata explained what happened between the three, never saying a word except for the occasional question.
“We were walking across the street,” Sonata continued. “The two started off with tidbits of insults, nothing harmful… Just small.”
“But it didn’t stop there, did it?” Sunset asked.
“No… It only got worse. Pretty soon, Aria hit Adagio in the face, accusing her of only caring about feeding off the entire school for herself. After that, Adagio stuck back like a boxer and everything went wrong.”
“That does explain it… But what happened to you ?”
“Well, I knew those two were steamed, I just never thought they’d actually try to kill each other like alley cats.”
Sunset wouldn't put it past them, that they were… Less than pleased for losing. Still, she didn’t think even Sonata Dusk deserved what happened. If anything, she was just at the wrong place, at the wrong time… Caught in the crossfire like an innocent civilian.
“That doesn’t answer what they did to you, Sonata,” Sunset said, bluntly. “You need to tell me.”
A tear snuck it’s way out of Sonata’s eye, as she looked down. But deep down, she knew she was stalling.
“I did manage to spread them apart,” Sonata continued. “I tried to say something encouraging, that we can just go somewhere else and slowly get back on our feet. That only made Aria mad, bringing up the fact she wasn’t to blame for what happened. That if I hadn’t stupidly told you about our plan if I wasn’t so… So… Stupid…”
Sonata stopped when she caught herself crying again. Whatever Adagio and Aria did, they were pretty rough.
“It all dawned on Adagio… Then she threw me to the ground, dragging me towards the alleyway, where she… She… Punched me! I begged her to stop, but she kicked me while Aria held me down. Next thing I knew… Next thing I knew… I was practically beaten to death. My two and only friends… They tried to kill me!”
Sonata stifled a cry, turning towards the window, watching the rain slide against the grass.
“I remember the rain… It was so hard, no one could see or hear me. Or so I thought. Fifteen minutes of beating me like a punching bag, they left me there to rot. I should’ve known it would happen. After everything I did for them, everything I put up for, and everything I ignored… They left me in the gutter like I was nothing! I… Just… What did I…? What did I do to deserve this…? All I ever wanted was to feel useful, to feel wanted … But they left me! W-Why did they do it? How come no one wants me? Why… Why does everybody hate me? I just wanted… Friends …”
There was no lie or act to Sonata’s words, Sunset could see it. The pain was real; she wanted to make a change. To right whatever wrongs she did, turning to the one person she could trust… Sunset Shimmer . The crack of lighting rang out like a whip, Sonata screamed and planted her face along her shoulder like a scared child. Tears streamed down her raspberry eyes, but more fell along Sunset’s.
“Was this truly how I felt in her place? ” Sunset asked herself. “Or perhaps because our pasts make us that similar? Maybe it’s both… What if it was all a ruse…? ”
Sunset Shimmer shook her head, not even Sonata Dusk would lie about this. For now, any though Sunset had that this was all part of a grand scheme of revenge, that was put aside… For now. All Sunset could do was hug her, careful with her sensitive wounds, offering her the closest to affection Sonata hadn’t felt in a while. For the first time, in one whole evening, the moonlight reflected Sonata’s eyes, her tears sparkling in the light. This time, however, she wasn’t crying because she was sad. She was crying because she was happy, out of relief, as if a great weight were lifted off her shoulder.
“I should’ve told you about it sooner…” Sonata admitted, softly. “I’m sorry for ruining your evening.”
But Sunset just shook her head, patting a hand along the left side of her face, stroking her hair like a mother consoling a scared child.
“It’s alright, there’s nothing to be sorry about,” Sunset assured. “To be fair, I was expecting a boring night here anyway. Honestly, you did me a favor showing up.”
Sonata smiled with relief, resting her head on Sunset’s shoulder.
“Sonata?”
“Yea?”
“I hope you don’t mind if I ask ‘one’ more question. I told you why ‘I’ came to this world… But why did ‘you’ come here?”
Sonata Dusk looked at her, skepticism in her eyes. As if Sunset was interviewing her as if expecting a confessional. Sonata could’ve dodged the question, but she simply sighed assuming someone was bound to know eventually… If not Sunset herself.
“It wasn’t my choice,” Sonata answered. “All three of us were banished for our crimes against Equestria. We never asked to come here; honestly, I only went along with the girls because there was no other way. Adagio was always the brains of the three, more dangerous than either me or Aria. After being here, seeing this new world, I started to love everything … Had it not been for our mission, I saw it as a chance for us to start over. But nothing changed: Aria would still call me names, Adagio would belittle me like the idiot she sees me as, and all I wanted was to enjoy it here… But I couldn’t.”
Sunset Shimmer noticed fresh tears coming from her eyes, the more Sonata explained her situation. Sunset gently wiped them away, while Sonata looked at her.
“You know, if you’re so worried about those two,” Sunset spoke. “You’re welcome to stay with me, if you want to.”
A surprise look formed on Sonata’s face, as if assuming Sunset was humoring her.
“After all the things we’ve—” Sonata stammered, searching for words. “Everything I’ve done to you and your friends?”
Sunset nodded with full sincerity, turning her chin so the two troubled girls could face each other.
“It’s as you said,” Sunset explained. “You were, more or less, forced into their plans as I forced Snips and Snails into mine. If there’s one thing my friends taught me: You must forgive yourself before everyone can forgive you. And if they don’t accept you, if worse comes to worse, you can always come to me… And I’ll deal with it myself.”
“Why would you do that for me?” Sonata asked, softly.
“Because… That’s what a true friend will do if you want me to be.”
Though her eyes seemed nervous and afraid, still worried for her safety, nevertheless Sonata Dusk was happy for the offer. The tears in her eyes slowly faded, not so much entirely thanks to Sunset Shimmer but it was a start for a new beginning. Sonata hugged her tightly, the warmth coming from her was satisfying, something Sunset hadn’t felt for a while.
As sleep overcame Sonata Dusk, Sunset Shimmer tucked her in the blanket and let her sleep peacefully under the moonlight, as the rain finally stopped. Sunset made her way to her room, stopping at the foot of the stairs, to turn and watch as she laid peacefully, like all her troubles drifted away. A smile formed on Sunset’s face, as she eventually climbed the stairs and left Sonata to lie on the couch, smiling under the full moon emerging through the clouds on a starlit sky. For as long as there was someone to listen to their pain, be it Sunset Shimmer or Sonata Dusk…
It never felt so good to be alive…
